Rattma Choumramamy, 47, was killed on April 18, 2015, in Fresno, California. The fatal shooting occurred in a field where she worked. Family tensions reportedly underlay the incident: Rattma had been married to Leuth Sengsongkham for 33 years and they had seven children, and Sengsongkham suspected Rattma of having an affair.

On the day of the shooting Sengsongkham confronted Rattma and the alleged lover, Keo Thongkhamvilay, in the field and shot both victims; both were left to die at the scene. Sengsongkham then went to Las Vegas; his daughters later turned him in. Detectives recovered the murder weapon from Sengsongkham’s car and found Rattma’s blood on his shoes. Sengsongkham confessed and admitted planning the act, while his defense argued the killing occurred in a heat of passion and raised issues about language barriers affecting the confession.

Prosecutors described the slayings as premeditated and pursued murder charges that carry the possibility of life in prison; the defense sought manslaughter treatment.